A Study of the Personal Meaning of Suicide in the Context of Baechler’s Typology

This study investigates suicide from the vantage point of the suicidal person by analyzing the personal meanings of the act for the individual. Subjects (N=27) were 17 parasuicides, 5 suicide ideators, & 5 completed suicides, ranging in age from 13-58 years. The subjects were studied using Jean Baechler’s approach. Results indicated that there was, in each case, an identifiable purpose or pattern that can be categorized within a restricted & meaningful system. 8 ref.